RoadVitals

1991 Lotus Elan

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Apr 20, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 25, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Lotus Elan, most frequently naming the fuel system, driver assistance and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system1285.7%
  • Driver assistance17.1%
  • Visibility17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V199000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jul 25, 2002
546 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANKS CAN LEAK.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 26, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LOTUS AT 1-800-245-6887.
LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Fuel system
Filed Apr 20, 2002

FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN OVER 1/2 FILLED

NHTSA ID
760936
Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2002

GAS TANK LEAKS FUEL IF YOU FILL IT UP.

NHTSA ID
760893
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2002

WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND GAS TANK IS FULL, FUEL LEAKS OUT. IF TANK IS HALF FULL AND ON A HILL, FUEL DOESN'T LEAK OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER HAS TO FILL THE GAS TANK TO 1/2 OF IT'S CAPACITY TO AVOID SMELLS AND SPILLAGE. *JG

NHTSA ID
8007015
Fuel systemVisibility
Filed Apr 5, 2002

NEAR THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK THERE IS A CRACK. WHEN FILLING VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL IT LEAKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, IT WAS SPLIT ON ONE SIDE. WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND WAS INOPERATIVE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8006942
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Mar 6, 2002

FUEL TANK CRACKED, AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FIXED IT TWICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005068
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Fuel system
Filed Feb 25, 2002

APPERANTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE LOTUS ELAN FUEL TANK. LOTUS WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR REPAIRING SOMETHING THEY KNOW IS FAULTY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER ELAN OWNERS AND SOME HAVE PAID THE FEE FOR THE NEW TANK AS WELL AS THE SERVICE CHARGES TOTALLING OVER $1,000. I ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER OWNERS WOULD LIKE LOTUS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
758628
Fuel system
Filed Aug 17, 2001

WHEN GAS TANK WAS FILLED FUEL LEAKED ON GROUND AND FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE. FUMES WERE SO STRONG THAT CONSUMER FELT SICK AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE LEAKED SO MUCH FUEL IN GAS STATION THAT EMPLOYEE WAS GOING TO BILL THE CONSUMER. DEALER, LOTUS WAS NOT ADMITTING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IF VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD DIFFINTENTLY BLOW UP. *AK TOP OF FUEL TANK HAS A CRACK IN IT, CONSUMER STATES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1991 ELANS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
894598
Incident
Aug 7, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Dec 4, 2000

THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL BEFORE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
737280
Incident
Nov 15, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lotus Elan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994100—
1992010—
1991Viewing131038.2
1969010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.